Mobile patient lift

ABSTRACT

An overhead type lift including a pair of horizontally spaced apart upright standards interconnected at their upper ends by means of an adjustable length connecting beam. A generally onehalf cylindrical or C-shaped horizontally opening cradle is suspended centrally intermediate its opposite ends between the standards by means of an adjustable length tension member operatively connected between the upper transverse connecting beam and the cradle at a point centrally intermediate its opposite ends. In addition, the lower ends of the uprights or standards are provided with supporting wheel means whereby the lift may be readily rolled from one location to another and the cradle enjoys a connection with the lower end of its supporting tension member whereby the cradle may be angularly adjusted about its longitudinal horizontal axis, even while suspended solely from the upper transverse beam by means of the aforementioned tension member. Still further, the cradle is rotatable about an upstanding axis relative to the supporting tension member and extending through the point of connection of the lower end of the tension member with the cradle and a horizontally disposed stabilizing beam is rotatably supported from the transverse support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis passing through the mid-portion of the stabilizing beam and the point of suspension of the upper end of the tension member from the support beam, the stabilizing beam generally paralleling the cradle and elongated expansion type stabilizing springs being connected between the two pairs of corresponding ends of the stabilizing beam and cradle.

United States Patent [151 3,656,192 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 McGeoch [54] MOBlLE PATIENT LIFT [72] Inventor: Robert R. McGeoch, 414 Roosevelt, Missoula, Mont. 59801 [22] Filed: Nov.6,1970

21 Appl. No.: 87,562

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT An overhead type lift including a pair of horizontally spaced apart upright standards interconnected at their upper ends by means of an adjustable length connecting beam. A generally one-half cylindrical or C-shaped horizontally opening cradle is suspended centrally intennediate its opposite ends between the standards by means of an adjustable length tension member operatively connected between the upper transverse connecting beam and the cradle at a point centrally intermediate its opposite ends. In addition, the lower ends of the uprights or standards are provided with supporting wheel means whereby the lift may be readily rolled from one location to another and the cradle enjoys a connection with the lower end of its supporting tension member whereby the era dle may be angularly adjusted about its longitudinal horizontal axis, even while suspended solely from the upper transverse beam by means of the aforementioned tension member. Still further, the cradle is rotatable about an upstanding axis relative to the supporting tension member and extending through the point of connection of the lower end of the tension member with the cradle and a horizontally disposed stabilizing beam is rotatably supported from the transverse support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis passing through the mid-portion of the stabilizing beam and the point of suspension of the upper end of the tension member from the support beam, the stabilizing beam generally paralleling the cradle and elongated expansion type stabilizing springs being connected between the two pairs of corresponding ends of the stabilizing beam and cradle.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures gigg- PATENTEUAPR 18 I912 SHEET 1 BF 3 m hq PATENTEDAFR 18 m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEDAPR 18 1912 SHEET 3 BF 3 Robert R. M'cGeoc/r MOBILE PATIENT LIFI The mobile patient lift of the instant invention has been designed to provide a means whereby patients may be readily and carefully lifted from one support surface, such as a hospital bed, transported to a remote location and then gently placed upon a second horizontal support surface such as an operating table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mobile patient lift that may also be utilized to lift a patient from and lower a patient to the level of the support surface upon which the mobile patient lift rests thereby enabling the lift to elevate patients in a prone position from the floor or other low supporting surfaces and to lower patients down into and raise them from therapy baths.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mobile patient lift constructed in a manner whereby it may be efficiently operated by a single person.

Another very important object of this invention is to provide a mobile patient lift constructed in a manner whereby it may readily pass through narrow doorways and be loaded onto and unloaded from elevators.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mobile lift which, after having elevated a patient from a support surface, may be utilized in angularly displacing the patient about an upstanding axis to any desired position independent of corresponding angular displacement of the entire lift.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a mobile patient lift in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile patient lift;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper end portions of the standards of the lift and the adjustable length connecting support beam interconnecting the upper ends of the standard;

FIG 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substan tially upon a plane passing through the center of the patient lift;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 ofFlG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the manner in which the lower ends of one of the expansion type stabilizing springs is connected to the upper portion of the corresponding end of the cradle of the patient lift;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the manner in which the upper end of the flexible link chain tension member passes over the center support sprocket therefore carried by the upper support beam of the cradle;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 10-10 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on somewhat of an enlarged scale illustrating the crank mechanism by which the overhead transverse support beam may be adjusted in effective length; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 12-12 of FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the mobile patient lift of the in stant invention. The lift 10 includes a pair of opposite ends uprights or standards 12 and 14 interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam 16. The support beam 16 includes opposite end sections 18 and 20 which project toward each other and are secured to the upper ends of the standards 12 and 14 the remote ends. The adjacent ends of the end sections 18 and 20 are telescopingly engaged with each other and an adjusting screw 22 is joumalled from the end section 18, threadedly engaged with the section 20 and includes a crank 24 by which its rotation may be effected manually. The end section 20 defines a longitudinal passage extending therethrough and a central portion thereof includes an opening 26, see FIG. 8, which opens downwardly and in which the upper peripheral portion of a sprocket wheel 28 joumalled beneath the end section 20 as at 30 is received.

The upper end of the standard 14 has a second sprocket wheel 32 joumalled therefrom and a winch assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 34 is carried by a lower portion of the standard 14 and includes an output shaft 36 upon which a third sprocket wheel 38 is mounted. The winch assembly 34 includes an operating crank 40 and a link chain 42 is provided and has one end anchored to an anchor bracket 43 projecting endwise outwardly of the end section 20 by means of an expansion spring 44. The chain 42 passes downwardly and beneath the sprocket wheel 38, back up to the top end of the standard 14 and over the sprocket wheel 32 and then through the passage define-d by the end section 20 and over the sprocket wheel 28 and downwardly through the opening 26. v

A support plate 46 is dependingly supported from the center of the support beam 16 by means of support members 48 and 50 and the plate 46 is centrally apertured and has a centrally disposed spacing collar 52 disposed therebeneath. A second plate 54 is supported from the plate 46 for rotation relative to the latter by means of a tubular fastener 56 and a bearing 58. The link chain 44 passes downwardly through the plate 46, the collar 52, the plate 44, the bearing 58 and the fastener 56.

The plate 54 comprises the central portion of a stabilizing beam including opposite end arms 60 and 62 which project endwise outwardly from diametrically opposite portions of the plate 54 and the remote ends of the arms 60 and 62 include upwardly offset terminal ends 64 and 66 to which the upper ends of a pair of stabilizing expansion springs 68 and 70 are attached.

A generally semi-cylindrical or C-shaped horizontally elongated cradle referred to in general by the reference numeral 72 is provided and disposed beneath the support beam 16. The cradle 72 includes vertically spaced upper and lower walls 74 and 76 interconnected by means of integral bight portion 78 which extends between and smoothly merges into the rear side edges of the walls 74 and 76.

A transverse rigid anchor strap 88 is secured in vertially spaced relation above and to the upper wall 74 as at 90 and 92 and a follower assembly 94 is guidingly engaged with the strap 88 and includes rollers 96 which rollingly engage the opposite side marginal portions of the under surface of the strap 88. The follower assembly includes an upper horizontal wall portion 98 through which a lower end of an anchor sleeve 100 is secured by means of a bearing and the lower link chain 44 is secured in the anchor sleeve 100 whereby the cradle 72 is supported from the support beam 16 by means of the link chain 44. However, the bearings 58 and 96 enable the cradle 72 to be angularly displaced about an upstanding axis passing through the bearings 58 and 96. Of course, inasmuch as the stabilizing beam comprising the plate 54 and the arms 60 and 62 is also rotatably supported from the plate 46 by means of the bearing 58, the stabilizing beam is free to rotate with the cradle 72.

Rotation of the stabilizing beam comprising the plate 54 and the arms 60 and 62 with the cradle 72 is effected by the lower ends of the stabilizing spring 68 and '70 being attached to the cradle 72. This is accomplished by way of horizontal transverse anchor rods 104 supported from opposite end portions of the upper wall 74 and vertically spaced relation above the latter as at 106 and 108 and the rods 104 have wheeled followers 110 guidingly engaged therewith. Each rod 104 includes a pair of expansion springs 112 which are connected between the corresponding follower 110 in the opposite ends of the rod 104 whereby the follower 110 is yieldingly urged to a center position on the corresponding rod 104 and the lower ends of the stabilizing springs 68 and 70 are anchored to the followers 110 for ready disengagement therefrom when desired.

A safety chain 114 is also provided and anchored to the center portion of the upper wall 74 as at 116 and to an anchor bracket 118 dependingly supported from the center portion of the stabilizing beam comprising the plate 54 and the arms 60 and 62. Thus, once the height of the cradle 72 has been adjusted by means of the crank 40, the safety chain 14 may be removably anchored to the bracket 118.

The follower assembly 94 includes a horizontally outstanding nut portion 122 through which a threaded adjusting screw 124 is threaded. One end of the adjusting screw 124 is journalled as at 126 from the top wall 74 and is provided with an adjusting wheel 128. Accordingly, the follower assembly 94 may be adjusted along the anchor strap 88 by means of the adjusting wheel 128 and inasmuch as the rear end of the anchor strap 88 supported from the downwardly curving rear marginal edge portion of the top wall 74 also curves downwardly, movement of the follower assembly 94 to the rear end of the anchor strap 88 will cause angular displacement of the cradle 72 about a horizontal longitudinal axis so as to incline the cradle 72 so that it opens outwardly and downwardly.

A pair of retaining straps 132 have one pair of corresponding ends thereof suitably anchored to the forward marginal edge portion of the lower or bottom wall 76 of the cradle 72 and the upper ends of the straps 132 are anchored to the forward marginal edge portion of the upper wall 74 of the cradle 72 as at 134 to adjusting screws 136 threadedly supported from the upper wall 74 whereby the tension of the straps 132 may be adjusted as desired.

The lower ends of the standards 12 and 14 are provided with transverse horizontal support feet 140 and each of the support feet or bars includes a pair of opposite end supporting caster wheel assemblies 142. Further, the opposite ends of the bars 140 include retractable floor engagable stops 144 which may be actuated from the solid line retracted positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings to the operative phantom line position thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 so as to frictionally engage the surface 146 upon which the caster wheel assemblies 142 rest and thereby frictionally resist movement of the mobile patient lift over the surface 146.

In operation, when it is desired to pick up a patient utilizing the mobile patient lift, the straps 132 are released at their upper ends and the tilt of the cradle 72 may be adjusted by means of the hand wheel 128. Then, the crank 40 may be adjusted so as to lower the cradle 72 toward the patient that is to be lifted. After the lower wall 76 of the cradle 72 has been lowered to the level of the patient, the patient may be carefully moved onto the lower wall 76 after which the straps 132 are fastened in the operative positions thereof illustrated in F IG. 1 of the drawings. Then, the crank 40 may be actuated to raise the cradle 72 and the latter may be retained in an elevated position while the mobile patient lift is utilized to transport the patient to a remote location. Of course, when it is desired to unload the patient from the cradle 72, the above steps are substantially reversed.

If during transport of the patient from one location to another it becomes necessary to vary the overall length of the patient lift 10, the adjusting screw 22 may be adjusted as desired. Further, the tilt of the cradle 72 may be adjusted by means of the hand wheel 28 and the cradle 72 may be angularly adjusted about a vertical axis relative to the support beam 16 merely by swinging the cradle 72. Of course, the stabilizing springs 68 and 70 serve to stabilize the cradle 72 while loading a patient thereon or unloading a patient therefrom. However, the stabilizing springs 68 and 70 also enable slight tilting of the cradle 72 during the loading or unloading processes in order to render the task of loading a patient onto the cradle or unloading a patient from the cradle easier.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intennediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, the lower end of said tension member being anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle, the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis, a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cradle opens horizontally outwardly along one longitudinal side thereof.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support beam includes a centrally disposed whee] journalled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis, said tension member being flexible and trained over said wheel.

4. The combination of claim 3 including winding means carried by one of said uprights to which the end portion of said tension member trained over said wheel is connected for winding thereon and unwinding therefrom.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said horizontal stabilizing beam is supported from said support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam, said cradle being rotatably supported from the lower end of said tension member for swinging about an upstanding axis generally coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the stabilizing beam relative to the support beam.

6. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, said cradle being generally semi-cylindrical in shape and opening horizontally outwardly of one side thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said cradle is rotatably supported from the lower end of said tension member for swinging about an upstanding axis.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the lower end of said tension member is anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle include means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis.

10. The combination of claim 9 including a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the first mentioned axis, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.

11. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being elongated, generally horizontally disposed and generally C-shaped in cross section, anchor means anchoring the lower end of said tension member to the upper portion of said cradle centrally intermediate its opposite ends, said anchor means being supported from said cradle for ad justable positioning along the upper portion of the transverse periphery of said cradle.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle includes means supporting the cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis and about an upstanding axis, a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above the cradle, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said stabilizing beam is supported from said support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of the stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the upstanding axis of rotation of said cradle.

14. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, the lower end of said tension member being anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle, the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis, a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the first mentioned axis, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam, said cradle opening horizontally outwardly along one longitudinal side thereof, said connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for limited angular adjustment relative to the lower end of said tension member about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said cradle. 

1. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, the lower end of said teNsion member being anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle, the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis, a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cradle opens horizontally outwardly along one longitudinal side thereof.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support beam includes a centrally disposed wheel journalled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis, said tension member being flexible and trained over said wheel.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including winding means carried by one of said uprights to which the end portion of said tension member trained over said wheel is connected for winding thereon and unwinding therefrom.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said horizontal stabilizing beam is supported from said support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam, said cradle being rotatably supported from the lower end of said tension member for swinging about an upstanding axis generally coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the stabilizing beam relative to the support beam.
 6. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, said cradle being generally semi-cylindrical in shape and opening horizontally outwardly of one side thereof.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said cradle is rotatably supported from the lower end of said tension member for swinging about an upstanding axis.
 8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the lower end of said tension member is anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle include means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis.
 10. The combination of claim 9 including a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the first mentioned axis, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.
 11. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being elongated, generally horizontally disposed and generally C-shaped in cross section, anchor means anchoring the lower end of said tension member to the upper portion of said cradle centrally intermediate its opposite ends, said anchor means being supported from said cradle for adjustable positioning along the upper portion of the transverse periphery of said cradle.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle includes means supporting the cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis and about an upstanding axis, a horizontal stabilizing beAm supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above the cradle, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said stabilizing beam is supported from said support beam for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of the stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the upstanding axis of rotation of said cradle.
 14. A mobile patient lift comprising a pair of spaced uprights interconnected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal support beam, an upstanding adjustable length tension member supported at its upper end from said beam centrally intermediate its opposite ends, and a patient supporting cradle suspended from the lower end of said tension member, said cradle being horizontally elongated and adapted to support a patient in prone position thereon, the lower end of said tension member being anchored to said cradle at a point centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said cradle, the connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis, a horizontal stabilizing beam supported from said support beam beneath the latter and above said cradle for oscillation about an upstanding axis disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said stabilizing beam and generally coinciding with the first mentioned axis, and elongated cradle stabilizing expansion springs connected between corresponding portions of said cradle and stabilizing beam, said cradle opening horizontally outwardly along one longitudinal side thereof, said connection between the lower end of said tension member and said cradle including means supporting said cradle for limited angular adjustment relative to the lower end of said tension member about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said cradle. 